Jimmy Johnson led the race 104 laps and was set to win, but on lap 8 the tire goes and moves him back to 24th. Not his day.

The Auto Club Speedway 400 started under sunny sky with the new cars. Matt Kenseth lead the pack across the line on the start. The rough bumpy track brought out complaints before the start about damaged tires. The first caution flag was on lap 16 when Carol Edwards lost a left rear and sent debris allover the track. The cars could be seen bouncing quite a bit.

Danny Hamlin was prevented from driving do to medical call putting Sam Hornish Jr. into his car just before the start.

Lap 42 took out Dale Earnhardt Jr went into the wall with minor damage lost his left front tire and brought in the field to the pits. Jr. spent a bit of time getting his car repaired. The teams were complaining about the tire, which is the same as last year. But the new cars NASCAR said that the car set-up was the problem. It was discussed that there was too much camber and too little air the tire for the extra down force.

The wide track allowed 4 wide racing even running on the apron.

Lap 58 saw Tony Stewart spin.

Scott slid up the track on lap 70 and into the car of Almirola putting them both into the infield grass. Almirola did not return to the track. Later Car 30 slammed the right rear corner into the wall.

Jeff Gordon was speeding on pit road and was moved to the back of the pack after running near the front at the start. However Jeff moved from the front to the back and to the front several times. But on the 108 lap moved into the lead.

For the first part of the race Danica Patrick ran around 27-30th place moving into 19th at 125 as several of the 'hot guys' move, front-back-front causing this writer to wonder when the once effective INDYCAR driver will show her once aggressive side. Or, are the NASCAR boys too intimidating. With the wide Auto Club Speedway track blocking was not and issue, and Danica has shown speed with a pole poison, so. ..

Many years ago when driving was more about overall driving talent than being a one skill-superstar, the top drivers successfully drove many different cars and race formats. Today not so much. Maybe Danica should have kept practicing INDYCAR instead of dancing with NASCAR.

Greg Biffle losses a left rear tire on lap 116. Tires have become an issue, but the cause is still a question. Teams start to lobby NASCAR for more sets of tires.

Gordon's car is strong on longs runs and at the front with 32 laps left, 2 cars set up a yellow and brings the cars in. Jeff holds second place on the restart and moves within feet of Jimmy Johnson on lap 15to but then fades back to more than 2 second on lap 8 and still fading with a vibration.

Lap 8, Johnson losses left front and pulls into the pits. 5 laps to go sees Boyer losing tires all over the track but with Gordon's car slowing a yellow comes out with 2 laps to go and Jeff with 2 seconds lead. Everyone comes in moving Gordon back to 8th, Patrick to 18th

Kyle Busch crosses the green-white-checker finish in first place, with Kyle Larson and Kurt Busch following. Gordon with his problems at the restart and vibrations finishes 16th, Patrick gets some help with cars dropping out and moves to 14th. But to give Patrick her due, she did keep out of trouble and finish a good distance higher than her starting position. Dale Jr. moved up and down the position chart and finished 12th. Tony Stewart came in 5th. Sam Hornish Jr. was called up, jumps in a car and finishes 17th.

There were 35 lead changes and only 2 cars out.

Kyle Busch "WINNER"

Sundays main event was dominated by tires. Goodyear continually suggested some teams were running pressures lower than the minimum recommendation. The tires lasted 19 to 20 laps before coming apart. With a few laps to go, the front runners all encountered tire failures. Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Clint Bowyer all experienced problems leading to a yellow with two laps to go. The green white checker had Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson mixing it up with Kyle Busch taking the win.
NASCAR Auto Club Speedway 2014
Fontana, California, 2012
George McClure Text & Photo